December 4, 2017
CONTACT: Brandon Lee
773-271-0899 x200, blee@advancingjustice-chicago.org
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Condemns Supreme Court Decision Allowing Full Enforcement of Muslim Ban Pending Appeal Process
Civil Rights Groups Committed to Continue Fighting Discriminatory Orders and Policies
Washington, D.C. – Today, the United States Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration’s Muslim Ban to take full effect as legal challenges move forward in lower courts. This ruling will greatly restrict travelers from six Muslim-majority countries — including Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Chad — from entering the United States.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice), a coalition of five civil rights organizations, issues the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the enforcement of the Muslim Ban. Allowing this discriminatory ban to take effect will cause real harm to Muslim immigrants and deny those in our communities from reuniting with their loved ones in the United States, many of whom are U.S. citizens and green card holders. This ban is among many policies this administration has advanced that discriminate on the basis of national origin, faith, and immigration status and targets immigrants and communities of color.
Today’s decision – while not a decision on the merits and not a final decision on the constitutionality of the ban – will embolden the Trump administration’s white nationalist and xenophobic agenda and is a direct assault on our national identity. The high court’s ruling ignores the painful lessons we’ve learned from the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the Chinese Exclusion Act in which the government systematically discriminated against specific groups of people based on national origin.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling today, this fight is far from over. This is one of many fights for social justice playing out in the federal government this week. While we are focused on the Muslim Ban, we are supportive of those who are advocating for DACA protections, those who are challenging the proposed tax plan, and those fighting to preserve race conscious policies. We will mobilize for all communities of color, Native communities, immigrants, and refugees.”
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.